Wisconsin Judge Overturns Collective Bargaining Law

A Wisconsin judge has barred the state's controversial law limiting collective bargaining rights for many unionized workers. The Wisconsin State Journal says Dane County judge MaryAnn Sumi ordered a permanent injunction against the law, ruling the Wisconsin state legislature violated the state's open meetings laws when it passed the act.

Earlier this year, Democratic state senators left Wisconsin rather than allow majority Republicans in the chamber to bring up the bill for a vote, which they had enough votes to pass. What the Republicans didn't have was a quorum - enough votes to call the chamber into session to take up the bill.

The law was passed through a rapid-fire vote of Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly in the dead of the night after Republicans decided to use legislative maneuvers to outfox 14 Democrats in the state's Senate who fled Wisconsin weeks earlier.

The law was heavily championed by Gov. Scott Walker, who says he needed it to reduce government spending. Thousands of people poured peacefully into the Wisconsin Capitol building, staying the night and fiercely opposing the legislation.

Although the law is blocked, the fight isn't over. Politico notes the matter is expected to move to the Wisconsin state Supreme Court.